NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+

Synopsis: Breakout New Adult sensation Monica Murphy returns with a hot new contemporary romance—a heartfelt story of second chances, forgiveness, and redemption.

Commitment. That’s what I really want from Colin. Ever since my brother, Danny, died in Iraq, Colin’s done so much to help me, including giving me a job at his popular restaurant so I can leave my crappy waitressing job at the strip joint. But lying in bed with him every night to comfort him from his horrible nightmares isn’t enough anymore. I know he feels guilty about Danny’s death, about not going to Iraq, but I can’t keep living this double life.

I love him desperately, but he’s got so many demons, and if he can’t open up to me now, then he’ll never be the real partner I need him to be. I gave him a month, and now I’m out of here. If he truly loves me like he says, he knows where to find me.

Happy Release Day to Monica Murphy and her latest title - Three Broken Promises!!!

“You’re going to turn me away yet again, aren’t you?” she asks when I don’t say anything. The irritation in her voice rings clear as her entire body goes tense. “I can’t believe it. I offer myself up to you with no strings attached and you’re trying to figure out how to let me down easy. God, I am such a moron.”

Unable to hold myself back, I rush toward her, angry that she would insult herself. Panicked that she really is going to walk away and I’m going to lose my chance. Thinking too much sucks. I need to just let it happen. Take this opportunity that she’s presenting me.

And let her go when our time is up.

“You’re not a moron,” I murmur, reaching for her. I cup her face in my hands and position her so she has no choice but to meet my gaze. I skim my thumbs across her cheeks, feel her shudder at my touch. “You make an offer like that and a man needs to process it first.”

The unshed tears still glimmer in her eyes and one escapes, leaving a damp trail across her skin. Leaning in, I stop its descent with my lips, tasting the salt, hearing the catch in her breath. “We do this and it’s not going to be some half-assed thing, you know,” I whisper.

She closes her eyes, her tears tangled in her long, thick lashes. “What’s it going to be, then?”

“A discovery.” I nuzzle her nose with my own, breathing in her scent, her very essence. God, I could devour her! It’s taking everything within me to keep calm and not unleash all over her. “An exploration.”

“That sounds like . . . research.” Her breath hitches in her throat when I drop a tender kiss on the tip of her nose.

Chuckling, I shake my head. “It’s the farthest thing from research.” I drift my lips across her cheek, blazing a hot path on her petal-soft skin. “You’re right when you said I don’t do commitment. The closest thing I’ve ever been to commitment is . . . what I share with you.”

She tentatively places her hands on my hips, her fingers curling into the waistband of my jeans. Having her hands on me sends little darts of fire throughout my insides, making me harden in an instant. She has no idea what sort of effect she has on me. How much restraint I’m using at this very moment not to throw her over my shoulder like an oversexed caveman and cart her off to my bedroom.

“But it can be no more than friendship with added . . . benefits.” I lift my head so I can look into her troubled gaze. She doesn’t like what I have to say and I don’t like it either, but I have to be honest. Stringing her along and making her believe this is something more is a mistake.

The two of us together would never work. I’m too damn selfish. I’d disappoint her. I’d hold her back when she needs her freedom. I’m not worthy of her. She’s everything sweet and good in my life, where there’s little sweet and good remaining.

I’ve kept her—and our relationship—as pure as possible even after all of these years. With the realization that she’s leaving me, that we’ll never be together again, I need to take my opportunities where I can.

Jen bites her lip and drops her gaze. “I can handle that.”

Her body language is more than telling me she doesn’t really want to handle that, but I can’t worry about it now.

I want her too damn much.

About the Author:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Monica Murphy is a native Californian who lives in the foothills below Yosemite. A wife and mother of three, she writes New Adult and contemporary romance for Bantam and Avon. She is the author of One Week Girlfriend and Second Chance Boyfriend.

I can't believe another year has come and gone. So many amazing memories were made and this year in books was pretty epic!

I want to wish all my blog friends, readers - new and old and your families a very Happy, Healthy and Book filled 2014! It's been a little over four years ago that I started blogging and I know I'm looking forward to another great year! It's because of my friends, readers and family that I continue to have fun blogging. The book community has been good to me and I am ever thankful for each of you near and far.

30 December 2013

It’s a fact that book lovers know all about the covers of the books they covet. Often when a title is released here in the UK, it’s sometimes vastly different across the pond in the US. So, Michelle from Much Loved Books and I have come together to create Book Wars to talk about the difference in covers when it comes to the US vs. UK versions.

We hope from time to time authors will chime in with their thoughts as well. We welcome everyone to comment and share their thoughts too! The more the merrier!

Before we get to this weeks Book Wars, we have a winner to announce. The Book Wars winner for Let It Snow is... the UK Cover!!! Thank you to everyone who voted for both books, and for picking a winner.

Also, there's a poll at the bottom of the post that we'd love to hear your input for the two covers! Tell us which one YOU love the most.

Synopsis:STOP THE COUNTDOWN. SAVE THE WORLD…
Leaving the beach, seventeen-year-old Janelle Tenner is hit head on by a pickup truck.
And killed.
Then Ben Michaels, resident stoner, is leaning over her. And even though it isn’t possible, she knows Ben somehow brought her back to life…
Meanwhile, Janelle’s father, a special agent for the FBI, starts working on a case that seems strangely connected to Ben. Digging in his files, Janelle finds a mysterious device – one that seems to be counting down to something that will happen in 23 days and 10 hours time.
That something? It might just be the end of the world. And if Janelle wants to stop it, she’s going to need to uncover Ben’s secrets – and keep from falling in love with him in the process…

About the author: Elizabeth Norris briefly taught high school English and history before trading the southern
California beaches and sunshine for Manhattan's recent snowpocalyptic winter.
She harbors dangerous addictions to guacamole, red velvet cupcakes, sushi, and Argo Tea, fortunately not all together.
Her first novel, UNRAVELING (Balzer+Bray, April 2012), is the story of one girl’s fight to save her family, her world, and the one boy she never saw coming.

Find Elizabeth Online:Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | TumblrLet the Wars Begin:
Its now time to make our decision, let's see what we think about the covers and pick our favorite cover.

Elizabeth
I definitely lucked out with the Cover Gods. I love both of these covers. They're so different but they both represent the book really well. I really love the background and the models on the US cover--it's so unique and different. But I actually love the UK cover just slightly more. I think it's the combination of the expression on the cover model's face--she looks so haunted and stressed--and the way that her face is "breaking apart" across the page. I think it's really eye catching and I love that.

Lisa Great choice we're talking about this week. Both covers for Unraveling are pretty amazing. This is the first time I'm seeing the UK cover and I'm blown away by just about everything. While I love and was originally drawn to the US cover I think the UK one wins for me this round.

Michelle
I am really torn with the covers this week. I fell in love the minute I saw the cover for the USA version, and really like how it fits with the plot of Unravelling. But once the UK cover was revealed I fell in love with that one, I like how her face is pixelated near the edges and slowly falling apart.
My choice this week is purely going to go with the cover that I own as I really can't chose between the two, so my vote goes for UK this week.

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+

Synopsis: Breakout New Adult sensation Monica Murphy returns with a hot new contemporary romance—a heartfelt story of second chances, forgiveness, and redemption.

Commitment. That’s what I really want from Colin. Ever since my brother, Danny, died in Iraq, Colin’s done so much to help me, including giving me a job at his popular restaurant so I can leave my crappy waitressing job at the strip joint. But lying in bed with him every night to comfort him from his horrible nightmares isn’t enough anymore. I know he feels guilty about Danny’s death, about not going to Iraq, but I can’t keep living this double life.

I love him desperately, but he’s got so many demons, and if he can’t open up to me now, then he’ll never be the real partner I need him to be. I gave him a month, and now I’m out of here. If he truly loves me like he says, he knows where to find me.

Review: 3.5 Stars - 3.5 Stars - Three Broken Promises is the third title in the Drew + Fable series by author Monica Murphy. While this reader has yet to read (covers head) the first two books in the series, I was glad to see that this could be read as a standalone. Not to worry for Drew and Fable fans, the two do make a few appearances in Colin and Jen’s story.

So our two main characters as mentioned above are Jen and Colin. They share a history from growing up together and a bond from Jen’s brother Danny who passed away in Iraq. When Jen needed someone the most Colin found her and was there for her when she was at her lowest.

Now these two characters are both dealing with issues, secrets and promises they’ll each do just about anything to keep buried and intact. However as the two become closer to giving in to their attraction and Jen’s past comes back to haunt her things become messy.

These two characters and their story were a bit frustrating to me. I understand and appreciate angst. I’m all for delaying things and drawing things out but this time it felt like it dragged on and on and these two just played with each other’s emotions. Neither of them had the best self-esteem either. No matter the past these two shared there was no believing in the others words and praises without believing there was something more behind it. It was hard to read that over and over again without wondering if there was some kind of point, and me as a reader starting to think that maybe there was something wrong with these two other than their issues.

I wanted to love it. I was really looking forward to reading this one too… but it was just drawn out so much and the characters were more stubborn in a “lets drive this reader nuts” way… I ended up frustrated and groaned more than a couple of times.

With all that frustrated me there was something there that I could see gleaming through that I just had to finish the book. I needed to know where Murphy was leading these to and at the end I sat back and thought many things and one being that I’d love to read more about these two in the future. Yes, while there was many frustrating instances while reading this one turned out to find a way into my heart and mind that I was sad to find my way to the end of the book.

I guess for me this time around I learned a lesson. That sometimes a frustrating set of characters can come out on top. That sometimes it’s when you finish a book you see a much broader part of the story and that it just might take making it to the end to find something that turns out to be a gem.

In the end I liked it. I’m looking forward to going back and reading Drew and Fables story because what I learned about those two has me very intrigued to say the least. I know fans of Murphy’s previous titles will love this one and as mentioned above as this can be read stand alone I have a feeling that those out there who are like this reader and have yet to read the first two titles will also feel the need to go back and read from the beginning of the series. Readers and fans of “New Adult” enjoy!

About the Author:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Monica Murphy is a native Californian who lives in the foothills below Yosemite. A wife and mother of three, she writes New Adult and contemporary romance for Bantam and Avon. She is the author of One Week Girlfriend and Second Chance Boyfriend.

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+

Synopsis:He’s waited more than 900 years to love her…

Being the Gatekeeper to Hades is no small feat, and waiting almost a millennia to meet your mate is damn near impossible. But Theo Bradford’s mark has finally surfaced on his intended. Now all he has to do is find her and convince her to embrace her supernatural heritage.

Young genius, Sadie Nowland, has got life figured out. Graduating college at the age of eighteen and accepting a six-figure job is just what she needs to prove she’s made something of herself. But when a strange tattoo mysteriously appears on her shoulder and Theo starts talking about Mates, it catapults her neatly laid out life into chaos.

Somehow a vicious demon banished to Hades defies Theo’s vanquish and returns, setting his target on Sadie, and she is thrust into the volatile world of Shomrei warriors and a connection to Theo her brain can’t comprehend and her body can’t deny. That primal bond proves more imperative to their survival than either could have ever imagined—and just may be the key to the world’s survival.

Excerpt:

His tender tongue brushed her bottom lip, begging entrance. She opened, tasting him for the first time. The mint intensified, but then a wave of heady cologne swam over her.

She ran her hands down his chest, over the smooth cotton T-shirt and each and every curve of his chiseled body, then coiled her arms beneath his to latch onto his shoulders. The motion pulled her flush against him, and he took in a sharp breath.

Then dove deeper.

A thrill shot through her stomach. Heat enveloped her, hugging her waist, then worked straight to her heart.

He fisted his hand in her hair and kissed a trail along her jaw to her ear, then just behind.

“Oh.” Goose bumps claimed her skin. God, that felt good.

“You used the vanilla spray.” He licked her skin. “I was hoping you would.”

“Is that your ploy? Have things stashed in the bathroom for the women you bring here?”

He whipped his head from her neck. The pained look of shock in his eyes sent her heart thrashing even more than it already was.

His shiny lips pressed into a thin line, and she swore she heard him growl.

“But you’re more than nine hundred years old, Theo. You had to have been with women before.” Especially to be such a good kisser.

He held her gaze, and it was then she knew. There’d been no one before her.

As in ever.

Tears stung. He’d truly been alone. Waiting.

For her.

About the Author:

Originally from Minnesota, Reese Monroe currently enjoys living in the sunny Arizona desert with her husband of seventeen years and her loveable Shetland Sheep dog, Maddux. Monroe holds a degree in psychology from Southwest Minnesota State University and a master's degree from the University of Iowa. When she’s not busy writing her next trilogy, she can be found pounding the pavement, training to run her first marathon.

Reese Monroe is a contributing blogger at the widely popular site New Adult Alley (NAAlley.com) and has been part of the New Adult revolution for years having penned over thirty novels in the exciting new category. Look for her Bound by Hades trilogy coming soon from Entangled Publishing

23 December 2013

Wishing you and your families a very Merry Christmas! If you are traveling, travel safe. I hope you all have a wonderful time with friends and family, near and far. Here's to a happy and healthy holiday filled with lots of people close to you and lots of good food too! I hope that Santa stops by each of your homes and leaves you gifts of all shapes and sizes. Oh and lots of good books too!

I'll be spending Christmas Eve and day a bit different yet again this year. After over 30 years of traditions, ours are continuing to evolve. It's still so hard to change something that's been such a huge part of our holidays, but we're having fun with the changes as they come and it's always a wonderful time of the year to make new traditions. We're having one of our big Christmas get together on the 24th and I can't wait to see the girls - wee and mini and bud our nephew open all their presents! It's going to be a fun crazy, filled Christmas Eve and Day.

Oh and I get my hubby for 12 days again this year and I'm looking forward to spending some much needed down time with him. Nothing like taking some time off during this time of the year. Speaking of time off, things around here on the blog will be a bit slow until after hubs goes back to work. There will be a few posts here and there, but it'll be much quieter than usual. Posting will start to resume normally after January 2nd, 2014.

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+

Synopsis: Desperate to keep him...

I've finally gotten everything I ever wanted: love, freedom, happiness, and, most importantly, Finn. Our love is everything I expected it to be and more. We've finally found each other, but the world seems determined to tear us apart. We thought my father was the only obstacle between us, but now it's the military. With Finn’s departure looming, we’re squeezing in every moment together before we run out of time.

Trying to make every moment count…

Being Carrie’s bodyguard was one thing. Being her boyfriend is another. Every day she’s mine is a day the sun shines in my life. Yet our time together is running out. Her father will never think a tattooed Marine will be good enough so I’ll do with whatever it takes to be worthy of her love. But the road will take me away from the girl who makes me feel alive--the girl I can't live without.

Time only gets us so far...

A letter from Finn

Dear reader,Hello! I am Finn from OUT OF TIME, and I thought it would be fun to take a day here at this lovely blog, and answer some questions. Today, nothing is off the table. Ask me anything.For those of you who might not know me, I’m in both OUT OF LINE and OUT OF TIME. I’m a Marine. I ride a Harley. I have tattoos. I love to surf. Let’s see…Oh, and I’m in love with Carrie Wallington. Deeply, fully in love.My newest book just came out, and I know if you’ve read it, you are probably filled with questions. While I can’t promise to answer all of them (I’m not a fortuneteller!!), I will do my best to make you all quite happy with me.So ask away. I’m here, baby.Love,Finn ;)

Okay everyone, the floors open! Let's ask Finn some questions down in the comments!

I LOVED Out of Line, the first book in the trilogy and for a limited time is ONLY .99 cents!

So, to help celebrate the release of Out of Time, be sure to grab and read Out of Line on sale while it lasts!

About the author:

Jen McLaughlin writes steamy New Adult books for the young and young at heart. Her first release, Out of Line, is due out September 2013. She also writes Contemporary Romance under the pen name Diane Alberts. She is a multi-published, bestselling author and is represented by Louise Fury from the L. Perkins Agency. Since receiving her first contract offer under the pen name Diane Alberts, she has yet to stop writing.

Though she lives in the mountains, she really wishes she was surrounded by a hot, sunny beach with crystal clear water. She lives in Northeast Pennsylvania with her four kids, a husband, a schnauzer mutt, a cat, and a Senegal parrot. In the rare moments when she’s not writing, she can usually be found hunched over one knitting project or another. Her goal is too write so many well-crafted romance books that even a non-romance reader will know her name.

Jen is giving away 4 $10 Amazon Gift Cards and an amazing grand prize! The grand prize winner will get to help name a character in book 3 of the series, and will get their name in the acknowledgement section of the book! Contest is international.

It’s a fact that book lovers know all about the covers of the books they covet. Often when a title is released here in the UK, it’s sometimes vastly different across the pond in the US. So, Michelle from Much Loved Books and I have come together to create Book Wars to talk about the difference in covers when it comes to the US vs. UK versions.

We hope from time to time authors will chime in with their thoughts as well. We welcome everyone to comment and share their thoughts too! The more the merrier!

Before we get to this weeks Book Wars, we have a winner to announce. The Book Wars winner for Fall Guy is.... the US Cover ! Thank you to everyone who voted for both books, and for picking a winner.

Also, there's a poll at the bottom of the post that we'd love to hear your input for the two covers! Tell us which one YOU love the most.

Left: US - Right: UK

***Note: The US cover is the original cover from it's first release***

Sparkling white snowdrifts, beautiful presents wrapped in ribbons, and multicolored lights glittering in the night through the falling snow. A Christmas Eve snowstorm transforms one small town into a romantic haven, the kind you see only in movies. Well, kinda. After all, a cold and wet hike from a stranded train through the middle of nowhere would not normally end with a delicious kiss from a charming stranger. And no one would think that a trip to the Waffle House through four feet of snow would lead to love with an old friend. Or that the way back to true love begins with a painfully early morning shift at Starbucks. Thanks to three of today’s bestselling teen authors—John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle—the magic of the holidays shines on these hilarious and charming interconnected tales of love, romance, and breathtaking kisses.

About the author: John Green's first novel, Looking for Alaska, won the 2006 Michael L. Printz Award presented by the American Library Association. His second novel, An Abundance of Katherines, was a 2007 Michael L. Printz Award Honor Book and a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. His next novel, Paper Towns, is a New York Times bestseller and won the Edgar Allen Poe Award for Best YA Mystery. In January 2012, his most recent novel, The Fault in Our Stars, was met with wide critical acclaim, unprecedented in Green's career. The praise included rave reviews in Time Magazine and The New York Times, on NPR, and from award-winning author Markus Zusak. The book also topped the New York Times Children's Paperback Bestseller list for several weeks. Green has also coauthored a book with David Levithan called Will Grayson, Will Grayson, published in 2010. The film rights for all his books, with the exception of Will Grayson Will Grayson, have been optioned to major Hollywood Studios.

In 2007, John and his brother Hank were the hosts of a popular internet blog, "Brotherhood 2.0," where they discussed their lives, books and current events every day for a year except for weekends and holidays. They still keep a video blog, now called "The Vlog Brothers," which can be found on the Nerdfighters website, or a direct link here.

About the author: Maureen knew from an early age she wanted to be a writer. She went to
high school at an all-girls' Catholic school and graduated from University of Delaware with a degree in writing. She now lives and writes in New York City.

Many of the adventures Maureen's characters face in her books are based on real-life stories. Maureen has traveled all over Europe, and is a Secret Sister to vlog brothers Hank and John Green.

About the author: Lauren Myracle is the author of numerous young adult novels. She was born in 1969 in North Carolina. Lauren Myracle holds an MA in English from Colorado State University and an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College. she has written many novels, including the famous IM books, ttyl, ttfn, and l8r, g8r.

Her first novel, Kissing Kate, was selected as one of ALA's "Best Books for Young Adults" for the year 2004. It was named by Booklist as one of the "Top Ten Youth Romances" of the year, as well as one of the "Top Ten Books by New Writers." Her middle-grade novel, Eleven, came out 2004, followed by its YA sequels (Twelve, Thirteen, Thirteen Plus One) .

Find Online: Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | GoodreadsLet the Wars Begin:
Its now time to make our decision, let's see what we think about the covers and pick our favorite cover.

Lisa This is an easy week for me. My vote goes to the UK cover. I'm a sucker for snowflakes! If we were talking about US version that was released later with a different cover, I might choose one of those, but for me I love the UK version this week.

Michelle While I love how the US cover looks, I am going to vote for the UK cover this week. I absolutely love snow, and seeing these books in a shop I would definitely pick up the version with snowflakes over the US version.

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+

Synopsis: She was born the day the world ended…

Nurrin has lived her entire life with zombies—trapped behind walls meant to keep them safe. She’s mostly happy there. But when a zombie horde breach the walls of her Haven, she has to trust her brother, Collin, and his best friend to keep her alive.

He just wants his past to die…

Finn O’Malley has given up on voicing warnings that are ignored. No one cares that the zombies are changing. Now all that matters is keeping Collin and Nurrin safe from what’s outside the walls of a Haven. But when Nurrin’s best friend picks up a contact infection, he agrees to get the medicine needed to save his life. Forced together, relying on each other in a strange Haven, zombies aren’t the most dangerous thing they’re facing.

In their world, only one thing remains true: everything ends in blood.

Excerpt:

I ease the bike up to a corner and peer around. The trail of dead led here. A lone shot rings out, and a body falls. The other infects are snarling, a vicious song of hunger and hatred as they dart back and forth. I peek around the corner and see them. Ten infects gathered around a low overhang. Finn’s perched there. As I watch, he lines up another shot, and his gaze lands on mine. Shock and something else—hope?—fills his eyes for an instant before anger flares, taking over. He would be furious.

I push that thought aside—along with the strange emotions I keep seeing—and aim. All I have to do is clear a path. I get three shots off before the infects realize I’m there. As they turn, Finn shouts, and four quick shots ring. Three more bodies drop, but the remaining four are converging on me. I shoot two, and the others are on me. I can hear the pound of feet, and it occurs to me as one of the biters snaps at my arm, this was a stupid idea, and then blood sprays, and I swallow a scream as the zombie’s head goes spinning. Finn is glaring at me over the bloody steel of his sword, and I manage to swallow as he demands, “Did it bite you?”

About the Author:

Nazarea Andrews is an avid reader and tends to write the stories she wants to read. She loves chocolate and coffee almost as much as she loves books, but not quite as much as she loves her kids. She lives in south Georgia with her husband, daughters, and overgrown dog.

Nazarea is giving away a really awesome prize! The grand prize winner will receive a zombie survival kit and 25 edited pages of the manuscript and swag -- with notes from Nazarea. A runner up will receive the zombie survival kit and swag. This contest is US only.

On the morning of the first day of senior year, Alix Keener awakens from a vivid, terrifying dream where a ghostly boy warns her: Perennial is all around you. Shaking off the dream – and the cryptic message – is more than Alix needs as she starts a new life in Beaconsfield, the posh Detroit suburb she and her dad recently moved to after her mom’s death.

Alix ignores the cryptic dream message until one of her new classmates, the alluring Lewis Wilde, mentions it – he knows something about Perennial, and hints that it has to do with a boy who died in Alix’s bedroom. Suddenly wracked by waking visions, Alix finds herself teamed up with Lewis to uncover the truth.

Alix’s developing psychic abilities become more powerful but reality becomes increasingly unclear: Alix wants to trust Lewis, but a shadowy person named Vagabond hints that Alix’s trust may be misplaced. As things become more dangerous and complex, Alix must choose whether to use her burgeoning psychic abilities or possibly lose everything that matters to her.

An Interview with Alix Keener, the Main Character in Perennial, Ryan Potter’s Latest Novel

NOTE: You won’t find any spoilers here!By Ryan Potter

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with 17-year-old Alix Keener at Zeppelin Coffee in the posh Detroit suburb of Beaconsfield, Michigan. Intelligent, witty, and kind, Alix talked about the mystery of something known only as Perennial and the various ways it has changed her life.

Ryan Potter: We keep hearing about how different you and your Perennial story are. What can you tell us about that?

Alix Keener: Perennial came to me in a vivid dream the morning before my senior year began. Up until that point, my life goals were crystal clear. A full academic ride to the University of Michigan followed by medical school and a career as a pediatrician. But all of that changed the moment I met Lewis Wilde on the first day of school. Everything I thought I knew about life and the world turned to chaos within 24 hours.

RP: Are you saying you’ll never go to college and become a doctor?

AK: That’s a good question. Yes, I still plan on doing those things, but let’s just say I have some otherworldly business to tend to first.

RP: Fair enough. Are you in love with Lewis Wilde?

AK: Boy, you don’t beat around the bush, do you? (Laughter) My relationship with Lewis is…complicated. Lewis is the exact opposite of what my parents would want for me. Lewis has been in a lot of trouble and hasn’t had an easy life, but he’s a beautiful person inside and out. He’ll always hold a very special place in my heart.

RP: What can tell you tell us about Blade?

AK: Like Perennial and Lewis, Blade came into my life unexpectedly. Right now Blade is the best friend I have. At the moment, I trust Blade more than anything or anybody else in the world. Blade was made for me. I have a feeling we’ll be close for a long time. Maybe forever.

RP: Do you trust Blade more than Lewis?

AK: I’d rather not answer that.

RP: Do you trust Blade more than your dad?

AK: Can we move on to something else, please?

RP: Sure. Are you aware of a shadowy figure sometimes referred to as Vagabond?

AK: I am. Vagabond is my mentor but we have an uneasy alliance. He’s incredibly wise and powerful, but we don’t always agree on things. I never asked for any of this brutal Perennial business. Vagabond made it happen. He picked me. Because of that, I’ll always harbor some anger toward him.

RP: Last question, Alix. What is Perennial?

AK: That’s the billion-dollar question, isn’t it? The only way to learn about Perennial is to read Perennial. But I have to warn everybody: Perennial is all around you and will change your life forever.

There's still plenty of time to enter to win a KINDLE PAPERWHITE & eBook copies of Perennial!

ONE winner will receive a KINDLE PAPERWHITE & a eBook copy of Perennial!!

THREE runners up will receive eBook copies of Perennial!!!

Rules and how to enter -

Please fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter this giveaway.
Easy Entry for all! (Clicking this provides name and email which is the only requirement when entering. This is for the sole purpose of contacting the winner.)
You must be at least 13 years old and have your parents permission to enter.
This giveaway is open to US residents only.Giveaway ends: December 21st, 2013 (12:00AM EST)

I hadn't wanted to go, but my parents were so excited... So here I am, the new girl at Manderley, a true fish out of water. But mine's not the name on everyone's lips. Oh, no.

It's Becca Normandy they can't stop talking about. Perfect, beautiful Becca. She went missing at the end of last year, leaving a spot open at Manderley— the spot that I got. And everyone acts like it's my fault that infallible, beloved Becca is gone and has been replaced by not perfect, completely fallible, unknown Me.

Then, there's the name on my lips— Max Holloway. Becca's ex. The one boy I should avoid, but can't. Thing is, it seems like he wants me, too. But the memory of Becca is always between us. And as much as I'm starting to like it at Manderley, I can't help but think she's out there, somewhere, watching me take her place.

Waiting to take it back

Review: 4 stars - I had seen this book in work for a few weeks and kept picking it up and putting it back down. I decided to treat myself as an early Christmas present and I wasn’t disappointed.

First off, i’m going to mention the UK edition cover; it’s brilliant. The back cover especially is my favourite thing about this book. It’s like a notice board with raised pins and paperclips supporting the synopsis. They say never judge a book by its cover but it definitely swayed me in my decision to buy it.

The new girl’s dream as a youngster after reading Harry Potter was to go to a boarding school like Hogwarts. Her parents remembered her dream and years later managed to get her a place at Manderley Academy.

Sent away from the sunshine, beaches and friends of Florida; the new girl arrives in cold New Hampshire to a complete culture shock. Dressed in frayed jean shorts and flip flops she reluctantly hands over her phone; her lifeline to home and starts settles in to her new life at Manderley.

New Girl is told from two points of view and I didn’t once get confused. Sometimes with dual point of views I get confused easily, but New Girl is clearly written, each chapter labelled with who the point of view is from Becca or ‘Me’ (New Girl). Also, because each of the two main characters is very different in their personality, the chapters are easy to read.

I didn’t realise until I got to the end of the book that we hadn’t been told the New Girl’s name. I was a bit shocked when I realised this. I feel that this might have been done on purpose to engross the reader further and maybe ‘we’ the reader were the New Girl.

I’m new to reading contemporary YA, and so far i’m enjoying what I’ve read. New Girl had a bit of mystery in it too and I really enjoyed reading it.

I will say that there are sex references in this book, so it may not be suitable for all YA readers.

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+

Synopsis:
Sam Bradford has it all—he’s the #2 tennis player in the world, plenty of girls want to date him, and he’ll never want for money. At least, that’s what he thought until his accountant stole everything and disappeared. Interpol has no idea where to start, and neither does the American F.B.I., so Sam figures he’ll just have to take care of his body and play a few extra years to make it back.

When Blair Paddington, the accountant’s daughter and a friend of a friend at Whitman, shows up and claims she can help Sam get his money back he’s torn between wanting justice and the very real possibility that Blair is just as big a con man as her father. When she promises not only money, but justice, Sam agrees—but only if he can go along on the search.

The two of them set off on an adventure neither rich kid is prepared for—cheap hostels, the same clothes three days in a row, and nothing but a backpack of possessions—so they can fly under the radar as college lovers on a winter break. In spite of Blair’s shady family, her daring and resourceful personality strike Sam’s interest and he finds himself falling for the one girl he shouldn’t.

When they finally find her father, the truths that come to light not only make Sam question his affection for Blair, but could cost him more than money—if they can’t work together one last time, neither of them may be going home. Ever.

Author Interview:Hey Lyla, it’s always awesome to have you here! I’m happy and more than excited to welcome you back again and as always you are more than welcome anytime!So, how about we get started? First if you had 5 words to describe Staying on Top, what would they be?

Different, Fun, Deceptive, Slow Burn, Experience

With writing the fourth book in the Whitman University series, is it becoming easier or harder to continue writing these amazing characters?

Each set of main characters is different, so they’re all challenging in different ways. Blair was one of the harder ones, but Kennedy is still the hardest. Sam was pretty easy. 

In this installment the main character is Sam Bradford, what makes him stand apart from your past male characters?

Sam is the most easygoing of the lot, except for perhaps Cole, but what really makes him different is the way his entire world has been shaken at the outset of the book. In a lot of ways, he’s being confronted with the idea that who he is (which he happens to like) may be making him vulnerable.

Since we’re so close to the New Year, what would Sam’s perfect New Year’s Eve date be?

Sam loves Melbourne, and since the tennis season starts there, it seems like that’s where you’d most likely find him. As for a specific activity, he’s a man of two worlds. I think he’d love a swanky party, perhaps with some of his fellow pros, but would tug Blair away for a barefoot walk on the beach and a bottle of champagne before midnight.

Tennis has been such a huge part of a couple of your male characters lives. What does the sport mean to you and what was it about the sport that appealed to you in writing it into your characters lives?

I love tennis – the sport, the world it creates, and the personalities that reside inside it. It’s interesting, I think, that it’s not a sport loved by Americans, but it’s the second most popular sport in the world. Much like soccer, it’s a place where there is plenty of money and notoriety to be found, just not necessarily in the States.

It’s been fun kind of mashing up and playing with the stories/appearances/personalities of some of my favorite players. Quinn Rowland is mostly Andy Roddick, with maybe a little Fernando Verdasco tossed in for a boost in ego. Sam Bradford reminds me a little of Milos Raonic, a little of Bernie Tomic, and a smidge of Nole Djokovic (when it comes to handling fans).

And lastly, what can you tell your old friend Lisa here about Whitman University, #5? Are we finally getting Sebastian’s book??? Pretty please? I really need to see how his story is going to play out.

Book 5 is going to be Sebastian’s book!! It doesn’t have a title yet but my brain has been tinkering with the plot. I think it’s safe to say that Seb will never be the nicest guy around, but for this one girl, he would do just about anything.

Lyla, thanks again for the time and the visit. I always love having you here and I look forward to reading Staying on Top and what’s next for you and your books.

About the Author:

I’ve long had a love of stories. A few years ago decided to put them down on the page, and even though I have a degree in film and television, novels were the creative outlet where I found a home. I’ve published Young Adult under a different name, but when I got the idea for Broken at Love (my first New Adult title), I couldn’t wait to try something new – and I’m hooked. In my spare time I watch a ton of tennis (no surprise, there), play a ton of tennis, and dedicate a good portion of brain power to dreaming up the next fictitious bad boy we’d all love to meet in real life.

Learn more about RAK

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Hi, I’m Lisa and I'm a proud bibliophile.

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When I review I rate from 1 to 5 stars, 5 being the highest rating. I review based on many different things from the writing, to the story - to the characters and how I can relate to them or how they are developed. I also review based on if an author has worked their magic and was able to draw me into a story so deeply that I don't want to put the book down. If you would like me to review a book, please contact me or view my Contact Information and Review Policy for further details.